Coupling for the trail and limber of field-guns.



No. 738,953. 7 PATENTED SEPT: I5, 1903.

' 0. STOEKLE;

COUPLING FOR THE TRAIL. AND LIMBER OF FIELD GUNS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL M dw/M Z J. T2555 1:5 I ITLV ETZEUF UNITED STATES Patented September 15, 1903.

OTTO sToEKLn, or BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

COUPLING FOR THE TRAIL AND LlMBER OF FlE LD-GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,953, dated September 15, 1903.

Application filed March 20, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro STonKLn, merchant, a subject of the King ofBelgium, residing at 59 Rue de Lacken, Brussels, Belgium, have invented a new and useful Improved Coupling for the Trail and Limber of Field- Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

WVith the coupling hitherto generally employed the trail of a gun could not be detached from the limber when in motion, as it was necessary to lift the trail-eye from the limber hook. This operation necessitates considerable delay, very objectionable in the case of quick-firing guns; and the object of this invention is to provide means whereby its detachment can be effected when the gun is in motion, and to that end the limber-hook is so arranged that it may be turned in such manner that it'will release the trail-eye and allow the gun carriage to stop owing to its own weight while the limber continues on its way. This arrangement is of great advantage when bringing the guns into action, and particularly so with quick-firing guns, when the success of a movement may depend upon which of the combatants artillery is first in position.

In addition to the above -mentioned modification the ring or eye of the trail is swiveled, so that uneven ground will not cause the coupling to jam, as often occurs with the limber rings hitherto used.

The practical application of my invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of the coupling and a sufficient portion of a gun trail and limber. Fig. 3 is a similar View to Fig. 1,butwith the parts of the gun uncoupled. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged details.

The limber-hook a is mounted in the bifurcated end of the pole Z) upon a pin 0 and engages, as usual, with the eye 01 of the trail, which in this case is swiveled to a pin e on the end of the trail f, so that the ring of the limber cannot jam. The under side of the hook a is engaged by a plate h, connected to a movable sleeve g, so that by sliding the Serial No. 148.761- (No model.)

pivoted at Z on the pole, so that it is within reach of the gunner, who has simply to ,pull the lever at the order of the officer to disengage when driving full speed. Automatic accidental detachment during the driving is prevented bya pawl or alocking-lever m, pivoted above the hook at N, which pawl or lever is so weighted as to normally hold it in such position that it effectually closes the hook and prevents detachment of the eye from the hook, but does not prevent these being coupled, its curved end facilitating this.

I claim--- 1. In a gun trail and limber coupling, the combination of an eye, a pivoted hook engageable with the eye, and means for maintaining the hook in. the position occupied thereby when normally engaged by the eye, said means being movable to permit the hook to move and be thereupon disengaged from the eye, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, with the trail and limber, of a hook member and an eye member adapted to serve as a coupling between the trail and limber, one of said members being pivoted, and a sliding part engageable with said pivoted member to maintain the same in the position occupied thereby when normally engaged with the other member, substantially as described.

3. In a gun trail and limber coupling, the combination of an eye, a pivoted hook engageable with the eye, means for maintaining the hook in the position occupied thereby when normally engaged by the eye, said means being movable to permit the hook to move and be thereupon disengaged from the eye, and a pivoted pawl disposed adjacent the open side of the hook, substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. l

. OTTO STOEKLE. Witnesses:

JOSEPH MARKL, GREGORY PHELAN. 

